|
Current Issues: October |
| Story 2 | |
| Teen Problem We Ignore At Our Peril |  |
|
More than 90,000 girls under 19 get pregnant in Britain each year - double the number in Germany and 6 times the rate in Holland. It seems the problem is spiralling out of control because of parents who couldn't care less about sex advice, and a culture which compels girls to have sex for fear of rejection - even derision. Combine that with the poverty and inadequate sex education in schools and you get a nation of young people facing parenthood at the same time as puberty. Now the Government is trying to tackle the issue by telling teenage girls "It's OK to be a virgin." The aim is to combat the pressure placed on girls to be sexy. Peer pressure on youngsters to lose their virginity is a major factor - so the campaign will stress there is no shame for anyone who is a virgin. Parents are also to be targeted through newspaper adds, with a phone help line for advice on talking to children about sex. A Health Department spokeswoman said "This campaign is about giving teenagers the facts about sex and dealing with the issues surrounding teen sex." |
|